- Little turnout at the MCG for the ODI match between Australia and Pakistan
- Many cricket fans asked why the match was being played on a Monday.
- T20 cricket a fan favorite, ODI fixtures may fade into obscurity
Cricket Australia faces a big problem this summer if Monday’s sparse crowd at the MCG is any guide.
Only 25,831 fans attended the one-day international clash between the hosts and Pakistan, and while Pat Cummins showed his class (with the bat) to guide his team to a thrilling two-wicket victory, one has to wonder why the match was scheduled . for a Monday afternoon.
“You wouldn’t know this is a home game for the Australians, why has cricket fallen so much?” There wouldn’t be 1,000 Australian fans at this game,” one fan posted on X.
Another savagely declared: ‘This game at the MCG does nothing to motivate interest in summer cricket. A completely useless event. This is the most boring sport can be.
A third said: ‘The MCG is almost empty when millions of people are in town for the Melbourne Cup. A signal cricket is falling. A very sad reality for CA.”
A fourth chimed in with: “The commentator (cricket great Wasim Akram) said there are 27,000 fans here in Melbourne, and 20,000 are supporting Pakistan.”
Media identity Jason Morrison spoke for many bewildered fans when he questioned X’s programming.
“Something is wrong at Cricket Australia,” he tweeted.
Cricket Australia faces a big problem this summer if Monday’s sparse crowd at the MCG is any guide (pictured right, captain Pat Cummins)
Pakistani cricket fans came out in droves to cheer on their heroes in Melbourne (pictured)
In bizarre scenes, Australian cricket fans (pictured) were comfortably outnumbered at home
Australian cricket fans were left baffled to watch an ODI match against Pakistan at the MCG on Monday.
This supporter savagely called the confrontation with Pakistan a “completely useless event.”
Another wondered why there was no free-to-air coverage for cricket fans.
Cricket great Wasim Akram said in a commentary for Fox Sports: “27,000 fans here in Melbourne and 20,000 supporting Pakistan.”
‘Why start the men’s international season with a Monday afternoon and not the weekend?
‘Probably average television ratings and low viewership. Bad for the fans and the players.”
With T20 cricket’s Big Bash a ratings bonanza every December and January, the 50-over format could well fade into obscurity on local shores if changes are not made.
Test cricket will always be supported by purists of the sport, and the upcoming series against India couldn’t have come at a better time for CA.
Australia will play Pakistan in the second ODI in Adelaide on Friday, November 8 (2:30 pm AEDT) before the third and final clash in Perth on Sunday, also at 2:30 pm AEDT.
In a sign of the times, the two proud cricketing nations will play a three-match T20 series, with matches in Brisbane (November 14), Sydney (November 16) and Tasmania (November 18).
November 22 is the first day of the first Test against India, with the first ball at 1.20pm AEDT.